Ultrasound Examination Versus Palpation to Locate the Cricothyroid Membrane

Comparison of Ultrasound Examination and Palpation to Locate the Cricothyroid Membrane - a Randomized Study

Anesthesiologists get a course on localizing the cricothyroid membrane on a human using ultrasonography. Thereafter their ability to localize the cricothyroid membrane with either palpation or ultrasonography, in a randomised fashion, is tested.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Focus: Localizing the Cricothyroid Membrane Before Airway Management

Detailed Description

The ability to localize the cricothyroid membrane on patients before airway management is crucial in order to be able to follow the difficult airway algorithms.

Studies have show a high failure rate when anesthesiologists rely on palpation.

In this study Anesthesiologists get an e-learning course, get literature to study , and get a theoretical course and a hands-on course in using ultrasound for localizing the cricothyroid membrane. . Thereafter their ability to localize the cricothyroid membrane with either palpation or ultrasonography, in a randomised fashion, is tested.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 44

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Denmark
  • Copenhagen, Denmark, 2100
    • Rigshospitalet, Denmark

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

anesthesiologists

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• being an anesthesiologist attending our airway management course

Exclusion Criteria:

• unwillingness to participate

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Case-Crossover
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Palpation; The group using palpation as primary attempt at localizing the cricothyroid membrane
Ultrasonography; The group using ultrasound for their primary approach to localizing the cricothyroid membrane

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
rate of success of localizing the cricothyroid membrane with ultrasound and palpation	the rate of success is measured	december 2012

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
time to localise the cricothyroid membrane with ultrasonography and palpation	time measure for both ultrasonographic and palpation method	december 2012

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Rigshospitalet, Denmark

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: November 1, 2012
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2012
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2012

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 24, 2012
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 27, 2012
• First Posted (Estimate): November 28, 2012

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): November 26, 2013
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 23, 2013
• Last Verified: November 1, 2013

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: airway management; cricothyroid membrane
• Other Study ID Numbers: US-MC-001